Azamara Club Cruises Rolls Out 2014 Voyage Schedule

Luxury cruise line Azamara Club Cruises today announced the 2014 deployment of Azamara Journey and Azamara Quet, giving travelers a choice of 72 unique new voyages. Ranging from four to 17 nights and visiting 240 destinations in 66 countries, the line’s new 2014 program takes passengers to compelling destinations around the world that larger ships cannot reach.

“Azamara’s staff and crew stand ready to deliver our authentic and personable service along with immersive experiences to up-market travelers,” said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises. “One hundred percent of Azamara’s 2014 voyages feature late night and overnight stays in port to offer guests the opportunity to enjoy the nightlife of some of the world’s most vibrant places. There is no better way for travelers to immerse themselves in a destination than with Azamara.”

Azamara’s 2014 dance card includes a record-45 maiden port calls, such as the UNESCO World Geopark Langkawi, Malaysia; Maura in the Sultanate of Brunei; and the charming island-village Vila do Abraao, a favorite Brazilian getaway.

Most of Azamara’s unique voyages, often never repeated, are designed so travelers can combine two or more consecutive voyages for an extended travel experience. Let’s break it down.

East and South China seas
Azamara Journey, which we had the pleasure of sailing not long ago (see photo above from our voyage that discovered castles in a number of countries), will sail 12- to 17-night voyages throughout the East and South China seas from January through April 2014, alternating departures from Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Mumbai and Chennai. On these voyages, guests will visit UNESCO World Heritage Sites, such as Halong Bay, Borobudur, Parambanan and Sangiran, and revel in the nightlife of worldly cities, such as Tokyo, Shanghai and Bangkok to name a few, during their overnight stays. The ship then repositions via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal to arrive for its Europe season in May.

Panama Canal, Coastal California Wine Country and the Caribbean
Twin sister, Azamara Quest will offer a pair of trans-Panama Canal voyages between Miami, Fla., and Costa Rica, plus a new series of Sea of Cortez and Central America voyages, ranging from 10 to 14 nights. A unique eight-night Coastal California Wine Country voyage departs roundtrip from Los Angeles on February 10, 2014, to explore the 31st State’s famous wine region plus a three-day call at San Francisco. Azamara Quest also will sail an 11-night voyage to less-trodden, jewel-islands of the Caribbean, such as St. John’s, St. Barth’s, and Virgin Gorda, before returning to Europe in April.

Europe-the Mediterranean, North and Baltic sea plus the Adriatic, Aegean and Black seas
Both Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest will again sail European waters throughout summer 2014, offering travelers immersive adventures at some of the region’s most exciting destinations and cultural celebrations. Azamara Quest will sail a 15-night trans-Atlantic voyage from Miami to Nice, France, while Azamara Journey will reposition via the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal.

Azamara Journey will sail four- to 14-night voyages, ranging throughout the Mediterranean, North and Baltic seas. On the May 19 sailing, Azamara Journey will rendezvous with Azamara Quest at St. Tropez and Monte Carlo, where, for the first time, guests aboard both ships can join in the excitement of the Monaco Grand Prix. Travelers also can choose among three Baltic voyages of different lengths in July to suit their timing: a seven-, 10-, or 12-night itinerary, which all feature three full days at St. Petersburg, Russia. Gourmands should not miss the 14-night Food and Wine voyage, departing Southampton, U.K., on August 20, which features two-night stays at Nantes (Loire Valley) and Bordeaux, France. Azamara’s ships are ideally sized to sail into more-inland destinations like these so guests need only disembark the ship to shop, dine and join in the nightlife.

Azamara Quest will sail mainly in the Mediterranean, Adriatic, Aegean and Black seas, on seven- to 12-night voyages. A unique 11-night Mediterranean Easter sailing, departing April 11, offers guests an overnight at Civitavecchia, the gateway to Rome for an opportunity to attend Palm Sunday mass in the Vatican, and at Livorno for Easter Sunday in Florence. Travelers also can choose among a seven-, nine-, and 12-night Black Sea voyage, sailing from Istanbul. The August 20 voyage takes guests on a comprehensive 12-night itinerary throughout the region, including a call at Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 winter Olympic Games.

Canary Islands, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro
In late November, Azamara Journey will depart from Spain’s Costa del Sol to the beautiful Brazil via the Canary Islands. Travelers can celebrate Christmas and the New Year as they sail from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro. Azamara Quest will retrace the Spice Route to the Far East and ring in the New Year in Hong Kong.

Guests aboard both ships enjoy more inclusive amenities, such as included gratuities for housekeeping, dining and bar staff; complimentary bottled water, sodas, specialty coffees, and teas, as well as complimentary red and white boutique wines to accompany lunch and dinner; complimentary self-service laundry; English Butler service for suite guests; and shuttle transportation to city centers in ports, where available.

For more information about Azamara Club Cruises, see our collection of posts written while on board Azamara Journey, a ship we hope to sail again very soon:

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Follow along live via on Twitter @SeabournCruise and #SeabournFoodAndWineCruise plus SeabournCruise on Instagram

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Join us starting May 11 as we make our way to Southampton for a short sailing of the first Viking Oceans ship, Viking Star to be launched from Bergen, Norway on May 15. #VikingOceans is the tag to follow along with viking_cruises on Instagram. It's the first in a new class of ship said to bring 'small ship cruising at big ship pricing'